The Norfolk Constabulary firearms unit have added some extra colour to their uniform this month.

Eastern Daily Press: Rainbow lacesRainbow laces (Image: Archant)

They have joined Stonewall's national Rainbow Laces campaign against homophobia by putting multi-coloured laces in their shoes.

The campaign is another gesture of support for Norfolk's LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) communities during the LGBT History Month.

It originated as a means of removing homophobia from sports, playing fields, terraces and stadiums across the country, the campaign now having extended to organisations and public services to fight homophobic stigma and abuse.

Inspector Lou Provart, co-chair of the National LGBT Network, said: 'Norfolk Constabulary has a long history of supporting our LGBT staff and wider LGBT communities, as well as challenging stereotypes in all forms.

'It has been fantastic to work with our Firearms Training Department as well as the Norfolk Fire Urban Search and Rescue Team to clearly demonstrate just that.

'As a public service we want people to know that we are here to provide clear and unambiguous support to our LGBT communities to ensure that homophobia and transphobia are given the red card, in the same way at this campaign has started to kick homophobia out of the terraces of our football clubs.'

In January, Stonewall named Norfolk Constabulary the 32nd best workplace for LGBT employees in the country, a rise from number 40 last year.